“You’ll have to ask the princess about her.” Susan turns to me. “Where is Christine, QP?”
My lips part, and I look from her to Jada, who is equally as angry as I am. Then, without another word, I take the headset off my head and walk off the set.
CHAPTER 23
Knox
“What am I supposed to do about this?” I’m pacing my penthouse apartment, holding Cricket in my arms.
She has no idea what’s going on, and she starts squirming, pushing to get down. I bend and place her on her bottom, and she immediately starts scooting across the floor on all fours.
In spite of all the bullshit happening around us, I take a picture and send it to the cousins chat.
Knox
She’s crawling.
I put my phone away just as fast, not ready to see all of their texts. They’ve been blowing up my phone ever since that asshole Chet Adams revealed to the sports world I’ve been hiding a baby.
The clips are all over social media. Melody standing on astage, angry and confused. A petite woman looking from her to Chet to Susan and calling them all toxic narcissists… She got two out of three right anyway.
We just arrived back from Minnesota. We haven’t even unpacked our bags yet, and I’m searching for a way to insulate us from the fallout.
The number of paparazzi outside my place has tripled, which is to say there are three now when there used to be none. Bye week has begun, so Edward and I are keeping our bags packed and planning to sneak out of town with Cricket as soon as it’s dark.
“You could contact the authorities.” Edward’s level tone helps calm the anxiety twisting in my chest. “Take a preemptive approach.”
“I’m not drawing any more attention to where we are.” I wave my hand at the face on my screen. “Who knows what this girl wants.”
I’ve watched and rewatched the viral videos. Chet and Susan handled it all like the fucking Maury show.Who’s Your Daddy?
“She said what she wants. She’s looking for her cousin, and she seems like the good sort of person.” Edward glances at the screen, bending down to redirect Cricket when she tries to head to the bathroom. “She doesn’t suffer fools or foolish behavior. Perhaps she only wants to make contact.”
“Melody was right. I should’ve gotten the paternity test results.” I keep my voice quiet so I don’t upset Cricket, but the emotions surging in my chest are loud. “Then I’d know for sure she was mine, and I could tell these people to fuck off.”
I’m pacing with my hands on my hips, but Edward is still. His arms are crossed, and he’s in resolute problem-solving mode.
“It’s natural for Christine to have additional family members. You wouldn’t prevent her from knowing them.”
“No, but I also wouldn’t allow them to use her for some kind of clickbait, money-making scheme.”
“I don’t think that’s what she intends to do.”
“You don’t?” I bend down and scoop Cricket off the floor.
She’s against my chest, and I try to hug her, but she’s going through some kind of independent phase, and all she does is squirm and squeal to get down again. I bend my knees and put her on the floor once more, but I’m watching her closely.
The idea someone might try to take her from me has my insides twitchy and surging. I stand up fast when a loud banging sounds on the other side of my door.
Edward and I look at each other, and he steps cautiously to peek through the peep hole.
“Who is it?” I ask, loud and forcefully.
If it’s a reporter or any other kind of paparazzi Mrs. Burnbaum let through the gate, I’m ready to throw them right back out on their asses.
“It’s Melody.” Her voice melts the tension in my chest, and I lunge forward to unlock the door.
She rushes inside, and I pull her into my arms just as fast.
